Lakes are integral elements of quality golf courses, providing aesthetic appeal and play enhancement. Usually lakes serve as storage reservoirs for the irrigation system.

The aesthetics can be further enhanced with extensive rockwork and dramatic flows, shoreline treatments of artificial and natural rocks, railroad ties, aquatic plantings and meandering streams between lakes. Golf Courses Lake Systems also often function as a conveyance of storm flows using interconnecting stream beds, and for storm water detention in the lake basin.

The mandated use of reclaimed water for golf course irrigation in many jurisdictions requires a Lake System design that can effectively mitigate the adverse aesthetic effects associated with impounding nutrient rich water.